Portable fire extinguisher



Nov. 23, 1937. J.. I .bsEA'r PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mw-W Nov. 23, 1937. l- L SEAT 2,099,828

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Jan. 5, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 HG2 f 5/ W /A/z/f/Vro/e X4/y Ah/@ENCE 5547".

/Jzzzw Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE -3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishers.

The primary object of the invention resides in a fire extinguisher operable on the principle 5 similar to that shown and described in my prior Letters Patent No. 2,016,301, granted October 8, 1935, that is, uid pressure from rupturable cartridge is released into a chamber containing a fire extinguishing liquid for the purpose of expelling the liquid therefrom under pressure. In the construction embodied ln the above mentioned patent, the same was designed for a small capacity `Ahand extinguisher, whereas this 'invention embodies a portable fire extinguisher-fora relatively large capacity of fire extinguishing liquid which necessitates a 'different construction and arrangement of parts from that shown in the said patent. l Y

Another yfeature of the invention is the provision of a relatively large capacity fire extinguisher which is mountedk upon a hand truck to enable the expeditious rolling of the same to the location of a confiagration to be extinguished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressure tight fire extinguisher which embodies a tank adapted' to contain ya supply of fire extinguishing liquid, therebeing a pressure cartridge compartment at one end of the tank for compactly supporting an elongated pressure cartridge in a positionv at right angle'to the length of the tank to avoid the unnecessary lengthening of the tank or body without increasing the capacity.

A further feature is to provide a relatively large capacityre extinguisher which after each use, the same may be quickly and easily relled with flre extinguishing liquid, and the used presvsure cartridge removed and replaced by a fully loaded one.

With these and other objects inview, the in- 40' vention resides in the certain novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter kfully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the ac.-

companying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the parts in inoperative position.`

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view with parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in` which the pressure cartridge is punctured to release the gaseous content thereof.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

'h Figure 6 isan enlarged vertical sectional view of the pressure check valve. y

Referring to the drawings by reference charl acters, the numeral I0 designatesva cylindrical tank closed at one end byv av removable end plate `II :and which tank is suportedin a` horizontal Y position upona wheel truck I2. The top of the tank I0 is provided with a filling opening closed 10 by a removable plug I3 to enable the tank III to be filled with a chemicalviire extinguishing iiuid of the non-pressure type I4.' The tank is lled with the fluid I4 to a pointshort of the' top of the tank to provide space for a head of pressure 15 for expelling the liquid I4 from the tank during operation ofthe extinguisher. y

Formed integral with the end plate II is `a rcasing or housing I,5,'the same being provided withan opening in the top thereof closed by a 20 removable' screw plug I6. The interiorv of the casing or housing I5 constitutes a pressure cartridge chamber I1 and extending inwardly and radiallyfrom the walls ofthe chamber are lugs I8 whichact as seats for supporting the pressure 25 cartridge I9 in an inverted position within the chamber and in spaced relation to the walls thereof. The neck end of the cartridge I9 is provided with a rupturable seal or closure 20, which' rests upon the pointed end 2| of a piercing mem- 30 ber 22, which member is threaded through the bottom wall ofthe casing I5. The pointed end 2I of thel piercing member is provided with open'- ings 23 to enablethe pointed end to pierce the seal 20 and release the contents of the cartridge 35 through the openings 23 into the chamber Il.

For the purpose of manually forcing the sealed end of the pressure cartridge against the piercing element, I provide a stem 24 which is threaded'into the plug I6, the joint between the 40 stem and the vplug being sealed by a gland 25. The inner end of the stem 24carries a .head`26 which is provided with a seatv corresponding in shape tothe inverted bottom endy of the cartridge I9, whereas theouter end of the stem is 45 providedwith a manipulatinghandle 21 to facilitate turning of the stem 24V during operation for the piercing of thepressure cartridge. The opening in the top of the casing I5 is of a size' to facilitate the insertion of 'the cartridge VI9 50 linto the chamber I1 upon the removal of the plug I6.

Supported by the top of the tank I0 adjacent the end plate II is a check valve 28 which is intended to permit the passage of fluid pressure 55 fromthe chamber I1 to the tank III and to prevent back pressure from the tank Ili to the chamber I1. The check valve 28 comprises a cylindrical casing 29 threaded in the top of the tank Ili, while the top of the casing 29 is provided with an opening 30 communicating with a control valve 3i which is in turn connected by a coupling 32 to the casing adjacent the top thereof. 'I'hus-it will be seen that a passage is provided between the top of the pressure chamber I1 and the interior of the tank Il, that is, through the manual controlk valve 3i and the coupling` connecting the valve respectively with the check valve 20 and the interior of the cartridge casing il'. Seated within the top of the check valve cas ing 2l is a packing ring 33, secured 'in pomtion by a ring 3l threaded within the casing 29. Slidable vertically within the casing 2l is a member II provided with a seat for supporting a ball Il. A spring I1 is interposed between the lower.

end of the )member I! and the closure plug 2l which is threaded in the bottom of the casing 2l. The spring" tendsto'act upon the member 2| to seat the ball 36 against the packing 33` to close the passage connecting the tank'with the pressure chamber I1. .The member is provided withopenings 38 to-l permit of the e of nuidpressure through the check valve when the ball is unseate'd.`and which fluid pressure passes from the casing 20 through 'an outlet 4l in the closure plug Il.

` Extending from the top roi' the front wall of the tank Iltoward the rear end of the tank, is an outlet tube ",the rearwardly extending end f the tube terminating adjacent the bottom o f the tank., Il. nects with a control or regulating valve l2, which is in turn connectedto a length of Il having a nomle M at the free end thereof.

Mounted on top of the tank Il is a pressure gage 4l for visibly indicating the pressure within the tank Il during 'operation ofthe extinguisher. The wheel carriage I2 comprises achassis con- ;fsisting of a front saddle kIl and a rear saddle l1, the said saddles being Vrigidly,connected together by tie rods Il. Encircling the `tank'll adjacent the front andrearnthereof, are straps 4l, which straps are ilxedly secured to the respective saddles by rivets or the like Il and thefree ends ofthe strapsterminate in ears 5I which arefcon- 1 nected together by bolts I2.

Formed integral with the' front saddle are depending `bearings 53. which support a transversely disposed shaft Il. the spindle ends of which carry wheels Il.' By reference to Pigure 3 ofthe drawings, it will be seen that the shafts are'mounted on roller or other types `of anti-.friction maybereaortedto. f

The rear saddle V41 turnably supports a` trailing castor It, and the shaft for thev castor'is.

mountedin ballbearings to reduce friction and facilitate the easy rolling of the device.

Extending forwardlyrfrom the front saddle ,isan arm 51 to whicha bail handle Il is pivotally connected,4 and'by which handle, the fire extinguishing device may be pulled from one place to another, as .and when required vby pthe eiforts of a single individual.

The .device operatesin the following manner, assuming that theparts are in .the set position shown in Figure l of the drawings. An operator turns the handle 21 to force the sealed end of the cartridge I9 against the pointed end of the The front end of the tube 4I con-` piercing element 22, whereupon the pressure cartridge which may contain nitrogen or other iluid pressure becomes ruptured, thus releasing the contents of the cartridge into the chamber I1.

The valve 3i is turned on, whereupon the pressure of the fluid from the chamber I1 opens the check valve 28, permitting the fluid pressure to enter the top of the tank III. As the pressure enters the space above the chemical solution I4, a head of pressure is provided sufllcient to force or expel the solution I4 from the tank Il. Theoperator opens the valve l2, whereupon the contents of the tank III passes through the tube 4I and out through thehose 43 and nozzle M.

After an operation of the re extinguisher, the solution Il may be replaced through the filling opening Il and the used cartridge Il removed from the chamber I1 and a new one substituted therefor.

While I have shown and described what I deem to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I it to be understood that such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to ifA desired.

Having. thus described the invention, what I claim asI n ew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-'

1. In a portablewhl type fire extinguisher,

a lhorizontally disposed tankadapted to be mounted on a wheel chassis, a pressure cartridge compartment disposed beyond .one end of said tank .and having an openingin the top thereof for the insertion of a puncturablepreasurecartridge thereinto. a` dischargeoutlet at the other end of said tank, meansk within said cartridge compartment for slidably supportingk a pressure cartridge in a vertical ,positiong a piercing member extending upwardly yfrom thebottom of said compartment, a communicating passage between the top of said tank andthetopvof said cartridge compartment, a screw plug threaded into they open top of said cartridge compartment, and manipulative means mounted in said screw plug and manually operable for slidably forcing a pressure cartridge into puncturing engagement with said piercing member whereby `to release .s

the pressure contents thereof for passage from said compartment to the top of said tank. i

2. In a portable wheel ltype nre extinguisher,

a horizontally disposed elongated tank adapted to contain a iire extinguishing iiquidof the `non- .pressurel type and ,having a .dischargeoutlet ing the opentop end of said compartment, a i

fixed piercing elementrat the bottom of said compartment, means forgslidably supporting a pressure cartridge" within said compartment in spaced relation to the walls thereof when inserted through vthe open top end thereof, and in contact with the piercing element. and manually operable means mounted'in the screw plug for imparting sliding movementto a pressure cartridge to force the same against said l:tiercing element to puncture the same to release the contents thereof into said compartment;

3. In a portable wheel type re extinguisher. an elongated horizontally'disposed iiuid lire ex- 75 tinguisher tank open at one end, a closure member secured at the open end of said tank, said closure member having a fluid pressure compartment therein which opens through the top thereof, a communicating passage connecting said compartment and the top of said tank, a stationary cartridge piercing element extending inwardly from the bottom wall of said compartment, guide means within said compartment for slidably supporting a puncturable pressure cartridge in spaced relation to the walls of said compartment and with one of its ends in alinement with said piercing element, a screw plug closing the top of said compartment, means operable from the top exterior of said closure member for forcibly sliding a cartridge held by said guiding means in the direction toward said piercing element, said` last named means comprising a stem threaded in said screw plug, a head on the inner end of said stem for bearing engagement with the top end of a pressure cartridge,

and a manipulating handle on the outer end of 10 said stem.

JAY LAWRENCE SEAT. 

